Psalms 73
1 A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
25 For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
